Neely
Neely is a girl's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Champion or son of Neil; alternatively derived from Gaelic names meaning valor.
Origin and history
Neely is a name of Irish and Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from surnames like MacNeely or Connolly. Historically used as both a surname and a given name, it has a long-standing but gentle presence in the U.S. for both girls and boys. In contemporary times, it remains a rare, modern-sounding choice with a traditional geographic root.
Popularity in the United States
2,239 babies in the United States have been named Neely since 1880. It ranks #3716 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1920.
States where it is most popular
- TX (38.6 %)
- TN (22 %)
- MS (15.4 %)
- GA (6.4 %)
- AL (4.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 5 |
| 1890-1900 | 10 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 13 |
| 1920-1930 | 11 |
| 1930-1940 | 5 |
| 1940-1950 | 10 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 62 |
| 1970-1980 | 408 |
| 1980-1990 | 287 |
| 1990-2000 | 274 |
| 2000-2010 | 534 |
| 2010-2019 | 439 |
| 2020-2029 | 181 |
Fun facts
- Neely originated as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Mac Conghaile or Mac Naoimhin.
- Neely O'Hara is one of the main characters in Jacqueline Susann's famous 1966 novel 'Valley of the Dolls'.